September 10, 2021 -- Hurricane Ida disrupted the beginning of Tulane University’s football season in the worst way. When the Green Wave evacuated north to Birmingham, Mountain Brook football was there to answer the call.

Chip Long, the Green Wave’s offensive coordinator, is a Mountain Brook graduate and called head coach Chris Yeager to inquire about Tulane borrowing the Spartans’ facilities. Long and Yeager’s relationship extends well over 20 years.

“Chip called me and without hesitation, I said yes,” Yeager said. Tulane reached out to multiple high schools in the Birmingham area and for whatever reason, was turned down.

Yeager immediately communicated with the high school administration and other coaches to work Tulane into the weight room schedule. The baseball team shifted some of their workout times and others stepped up to help.

“Your facility has everything we need,” Tulane strength coach, Kyle Speer said. “Our guys didn’t miss a beat. I don’t know who designed the weight room, but they did it right. Double-sided half-racks down the middle is the way it should be in my opinion.”

Tulane has been practicing at Legion Field but Yeager has offered the team the chance to practice on the turf in Spartan Stadium. It’s something they may take him up on because the Green Wave might be here a few more weeks. But Mountain Brook didn’t want to help just on the field or in the weight room.

MBHS head athletic trainer, Jake Jordan, saw this as an opportunity to serve. He led the charge to collect snacks and water for the Green Wave. Tulane is indefinitely staying at the Sheraton downtown and they have a lot of needs that need to be met. Just the essentials like snacks, drinks, and personal items mean a lot to college athletes who spend a majority of their time in a hotel room.

“If we are the hands and feet like we say we are, we should help them,” Jordan said. “As an athletic trainer, I view them as someone’s son and I want to help in any way I can.”

Tulane returned to Birmingham after taking No. 2 Oklahoma down to the wire last weekend. Snacks, water and Gatorade showed up at MBHS by the bulk as word spread throughout the community that the Spartans wanted to help Tulane.

Donations are still being accepted for the Green Wave. If you are interested in helping, contact Jake Jordan (jordanj@mtnbrook.k12.al.us).